Lubrication in refrigerator compressor



Dec. 2', 1958 c. GIGLER LUBRICATION IN REFRIGERATOR COMPRESSOR FiledSept. 9, 1954 United States Patent LUBRICATION IN REFRIGERATORCOMPRESSOR Carlos Gigler, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application September9, 1954, Serial No. 454,893

9 Claims. (Cl. 23055) My present invention relates to certain new anduseful improvements in refrigerating plants, more particularly inhousehold refrigerators, and its main object consists in providing anovel driving apparatus for use in these refrigerators with the end inview of considerably simplifying the construction and correspondinglyreducing the costs of manufacture of said refrigerators.

The driving apparatus for refrigerating plants, in particular forhousehold refrigerators, according to the invention, is essentiallycharacterized by that the movable armature of anelectromagnetically-operated reciprocating motor is arranged in freesuspension between compensation springs and is directly operativelyconnected with the piston of the compressor of a refrigerator.

In accordance with the invention, in a refrigerator the piston of thecompressor of the cooling agent is directly caused to reciprocate withthe frequency of about 50 cycles per second by the reciprocatingarmature of an electromagnetically-operated reciprocating motor thefield coil of which is energized by a normal alternating current of likefrequency, with the advantageous result that all the well knowninconveniences and drawbacks of the refrigerators employing an electricmotor are entirely eliminated.

A characteristic feature of the driving apparatus for refrigeratorsaccording to this invention consists in that .as afore-said the armaturewhich is provided with pole teeth and is caused to reciprocate by thesimilarly toothed pole pieces of the electromagnet of a so-calledelectromagnetically-operated reciprocating motor is directly operativelyconnected with the compressor piston, thereby avoiding not only thenecessity of power-transmitting means, but also the loss of energy withthe advantageous result that the costs of both the manufacture of therefrigerator and its operation are reduced.

In this arrangement according to the invention the compressor pistonaccomplishes a double function; at the one hand, it causes the coolingagent to circulate and to be compressed and, at the other hand, byvirtue of its being directly coupled with the armature of theelectromagnet, it acts as a frequency transformer and permits to obtainin accordance with the number of windings of the field coil apredetermined increase of the number of periods over the normalfrequency of the alternating current i. e. up to 60 cycles per secondwith the advantageous result that the driving apparatus of the presentinvention is reliably operative within the frequency range of from 50 to60 cycles per second.

, An important feature :of the present inventionconsists in that thereciprocating armature of the electromagnetically-operated reciprocatingmotor is provided at both ends with axially projecting stud means andthat one of these studs is operatively connected with the cornpressorpiston, whereas the stud of the opposite end of the armature isoperatively connected with the piston of an oil pump in charge ofpermanently lubricating the cylinder and piston of the compressor, withthe advan- 2,855,559 Patented Dec. 23, 1958 "ice by virtue hereof theair gap between the pole teeth of the armature and of the pole pieces ofthe electromagnet may be kept relatively small thereby increasing theoutput of the electromagnetically-operated reciprocating motor. The saidcompensation springs arranged at. both ends of the armature and so as toconveniently surround the afore-mentioned stud means are so elected thatthe vertically arranged armature becomes practically weightless. Byvirtue of this spring effect and of the parallel guiding of the armatureensured by the stud means, a relatively high mechanical efficiency ofthe driving apparatus according to the invention is obtained andinterruptions of its operation are avoided, more particularly if inaccordance with the invention at least one of said studs is guided bymeans of the respective cylinder with the piston of which it isoperatively connected.

Another characteristic feature of the invention consists in that theelectromagnetisally-operated reciprocating motor is arranged within ahermetically sealed casing of diamagnetic material, in that this casingis provided in its bottom and top portions with axially projectingsleeve-like extensions for containing the aforementioned compressor andoil pump, respectively, and in that said diamagnetic casing is arrangedwithin an outer or main casing between compensation springs whereby thenatural vibration of said motor is absorbed.

An additional feature of the invention finally consists in that thecompressor cylinder formed by the upper sleeve-like extension of theafore-mentioned diamagnetic casing has its free open end hermeticallyclosed by a small cylindrical casing wherein by means of a partitionwall an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber for the cooling agent areformed, these chambers being connected, at the one hand, by way ofnon-return valves operating in opposite directions with the interior ofthe compressor cylinder and, at the other hand, by way of suitable pipeconnections with the condenser and the evaporator, respectively, of arefrigerating plant. The arrangement of the said inlet and outletchambers simplifies and facilitates the installation of the non-returnvalves.

With these objects and advantageous features in view, the presentinvention comprises the arrangement, combination and construction ofparts as will be hereinafter fully described with particular referenceto the accompanying drawing, whereon a preferred embodiment of theinvention has been schematically illustrated by way of example only andwhereon Figure 1 shows in a vertical sectional view the electromagneticdriving device and compressor of a refrigerator according to theinvention and Figure 2 shows the electromagnet of said driving mechanismas seen from the plane AA of Figure 1.

The electromagnetic driving device as shown on the accompanying drawingcomprises an outer main casing 1 with an air-tight cover 2. Within thiscasing 1 there is an inner casing a of diamagnetic material composed oftwo halves 3 and 4 and having bottom and top portions 5 and 6. Thisinner casing a is also hermetically sealed and is elastically suspendedwithin the casing 1 by means of pressure springs 8 and 9 arrangedbetween the bottom portions 5 of the inner casing a and 7 of the maincasing 1 and between the top portion 6 of said inner casing and the topportion of the cover 2 of said main casing.

The diamagnetic inner casing a contains an electromagnetically-operatedoscillating motor b. The stator of this motor comprises the field coil11 and the polepiece 12 provided with pole teeth 13, which are arrangedopposite the free spaces formed between adjacent pole teeth 14 of thearmature body 15. The reference numeral-1o indicates the air gap formedbetween the pole teeth 13, 14. The field coil 11 is connected by way ofterminals 18, conductors 17 and switch (not shown) to a source ofalternating current of 220 volts and a frequency of 50 periods persecond. p A p The armature body is provided at both ends with axiallyprojecting studs 19, 20 which are surrounded by pressure springs 21 and22,-respectively, abutting, at the one hand, upon the armature body and,at the other hand, upon a recessed annular edge ofthe top portion 6 ofthe casing a, respectively upon the bottom of an annular recess of thebottom portion 5 of said casing. The

springs 21 and 22 are so elected that the armature is practicallyweightless and freely suspended between the pole pieces 12 of theelectromagnet 11, 12. When alternating current of a frequency of 50periods per second is supplied to the field coil 11, the armature 15will be oscillated with the same frequency,

The stud 19 of the armature 15 projects into a cylinder 24 and isdirectly operatively connected with a pump piston operating in saidcylinder, This cylinder is fixedly mounted in a cylindrical recess 23 ofthe bottom portion 5 of the casing a, and the two cylinders 23 and 24project into a charge of lubricating oil 25a provided in the lowerportion of the main casing 1. An opening 40 permits the pump piston 25to draw in the oil which by the operation of said piston is supplied byway of the pipe 26 and itsmouth piece 26a to the compressor cylinder 27formed by a sleeve-like extension of the top .portion 6 of the casing a.Thus the pump 24, 25 takes charge of the pioper lubrication of thecompressor cylinder 27 and the piston 28 operating therein, this pistonbeing directly operatively connected with the stud 20 of the armature15. Thus the oscillating armature 15 operates both the pump piston 25and the compressor piston 28. The direct connection of the armaturestuds 19, 20 with the pistons 25 and 28, respectively, the penetrationof the stud 19 in the cylinder 24 and the arrangement of the springs 21,'22 ensure a correct parallel guiding of the armature 15 with regard tothe pole piece 12.

The outer open end of the sleeve-like portion 27 forming the compressorcylinder is hermetically sealed by a casing 30'. This casing issubdivided by a partition wall into two chambers 31 and 32. The inletchamber 31 and the outlet chamber 32 are communicated with the interiorof the compressor cylinder 27 by way of nonreturn valves 33 and 34,respectively, operating in opposite direction, so that the compressorpiston 23 may draw in the cooling agent from the inlet chamber 31 andforce the same after compression into the outlet chamber 32. This outletchamber is connected by way of the pipes 37, 38 with the condenser c,whereas the opening 36 of the inlet chamber 31 communicates with theinterior of the main casing which in turn by way of the pipe 39 isconnected with the evaporator d. Thus the circulation of the coolingagent produced by the compressor 27, 23 proceeds from the interior ofthe cylinder 27 by way of the valve 34, chamber 32, pipes 37, 33 in thedirection of the arrow F to the condenser c and from the evaporator d byway of the pipe 39, the interior 35 of the casing 1, opening 36, inletchamber 31 and valve 33 back into the compressor cylinder 27.

The operation of the refrigerating plant independently of its drivingdevice is generally known so that it need not be described in detail. 77

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerator, a compressor and lubricating arrangement thereforcomprising, in combination, an outer casing having opposite end walls;an inner casing having opposite end walls and being arranged within saidouter casing in such a manner that one of said end walls of said outercasing and one of said end walls of said inner casing form a compressorchamber between themselves and that the other of said end walls of saidouter casing and the other of said end walls of said inner casing form alubricant chamber between themselves, the latter being adapted toreceive a lubricant or the like; compressor pump means arranged withinsaid compressor chamber and including a compressor cylinder and acompressor piston slidably arranged therewithin; lubricant pump meansarranged within said lubricant chamber and including a lubricantcylinder and a lubricant piston slidably arranged therewithin, saidlubricant pump means being so constructed and arranged and communicatingwith said compressor pump means in such a manner that a lubricantreceived within said lubricant chamber will, during reciprocation ofsaid lubricant piston within said lubricant cylinder, be moved from saidlubricant chamber into said compressor cylinder of said compressor pumpmeans, thereby lubricating the latter; electromagnetic motor meansarranged within said inner casing and including a stator and an armaturemounted for reciprocation relative thereto, said stator and armaturebeing so constructed and arranged that upon electrical energizing ofsaid motor means said armature is electromagnetically reciprocated inboth directions; and connecting means connecting said armature of saidmotor means with both of said pistons for.simultaneously reciprocatingthe same relative to their respective cylinders during operation of saidmotor means, whereby said lubricant pump means and said compressor pumpmeans are operatedsimultaneously, the latter being continuouslylubricated during operation thereof.

2. In a refrigerator, a compressor and lubricating arrangement thereforcomprising, in combination, an outer casing having top and bottom walls;an inner casing having top and bottom walls and being arranged withinsaid outer casing in such a manner that said top walls form an uppercompressor chamber between themselves and that said bottom walls form alower lubricant chamber between themselves, the latter being adapted toreceive a lubricant or the like; compressor pump means arranged withinsaid compressor chamber and including a compressor cylinder and acompressor piston slidably arranged therewithin; lubricant pump meansarranged within said lubricant chamber and including a lubricantcylinder and a lubricant piston slidably arranged therewithin, saidlubricant pump means being so constructed and arranged as to move,during reciprocation of said lubricant piston within said lubricantcylinder, 21 lubricant received within said lubricant chamber; conduitmeans for placing said lubricant cylinder in communication with saidcompressor cylinder in such a manner that a lubricant moved by saidlubricant pump means lubricates said compressor pump means;electromagnetic motor means arranged within said inner casing andincluding a stator and an armature mounted for reciprocation relativethereto, said stator and armature being so constructed and arranged thatupon electrical energizing of said motor means said armature iselectromagnetically reciprocated in both directions; and connectingmeans connecting said armature of said motor means with both of saidpistons for simultaneously reciprocating the same within theirrespective cylinders during operation of said motor means, whereby saidlubricant pump means and said compressor pump means are operatedsimultaneously, the latter being continuously lubricated duringoperation thereof.

3. In a refrigerator, a compressor and lubricating arrangement thereforcomprising, in combination, an outer casing having top and bottom walls;an inner casing having top and bottom walls and being arranged withinsaid outer casing in such a manner that said top walls form an uppercompressor chamber between themselves and that said bottom walls form alower lubricant chamber between themselves, the latter being adapted toreceive a lubricant or the like; compressor pump means arranged withinsaid compressor chamber and including a compressor cylinder and acompressor piston slidably arranged therewithin, said compressorcylinder being connected to said top wall of said inner casing;lubricant pump means arranged within said lubricant chamber andincluding a lubricant cylinder and a lubricant piston s1id-' ablyarranged therewithin, said lubricant cylinder being connected to saidbottom wall of said inner casing and said lubricant pump means being soconstructed and arranged as to move, during reciprocation of saidlubricant piston within said lubricant cylinder, a lubricant receivedwithin said lubricant chamber; conduit means for placing said lubricantcylinder in communication with said compressor cylinder in such a mannerthat a lubricant moved by said lubricant pump means lubricates saidcompressor pump means; electromagnetic motor means arranged within saidinner casing and including a stator and an armature mounted forreciprocation relative thereto, said stator and armature being soconstructed and arranged that upon electrical energizing of said motormeans said armature is electromagnetically reciprocated in bothdirections; and connecting means connecting said armature of said motormeans with both of said pistons for simultaneously reciprocating thesame within their respective cylinders during operation of said motormeans,

whereby said lubricant pump means and said compressor pump means areoperated simultaneously, the latter being continuously lubricated duringoperation thereof.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said compressor cylinderis integral with said top wall of said inner casing and wherein saidlubricant cylinder is integral with said bottom wall of said innercasing.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said inner casing isspring-mounted within said outer casing.

6. In a refrigerator, a compressor and lubricating arrangement thereforcomprising, in combination, a fluidtight outer casing having top andbottom walls and forming a refrigerant chamber; a fluid-tight innercasing having top and bottom walls and being arranged within said outercasing in such a manner that said top walls form an upper chamberportion between themselves and that said bottom walls form a lowerchamber portion between themselves, the latter being adapted to receivea lubricant or the like; compressor pump means arranged within saidupper chamber portion and including a compressor cylinderand acompressor piston slidably arranged therewith in, said compressorcylinder having inlet and outlet ports, one of said ports communicatingwith said refrigerant chamber and the other of said ports communicatingwith the exterior of said outer casing; lubricant pump means arrangedwith said lower chamber portion and including a lubricant cylinder and alubricant piston slidably arranged therewithin, said lubricant pistonslidably arranged therewithin, said lubricant pump means being soconstructed and arranged as to move, during reciprocation of saidlubricant piston within said lubricant cylinder, a lubricant receivedwithin said lower chamber portion; conduit means for placing saidlubricant cylinder in communication with said compressor cylinder insuch a mannet that a lubricant moved by said lubricant pump meanslubricates said compressor pump means; electromagnetic motor meansarranged within said inner casing and including a stator and an armaturemounted for reciprocation relative thereto, said stator and armaturebeing so constructed and arranged that upon electrical energizing ofsaid motor means said armature is electromagnetically reciprocated inboth directions; and connecting means connecting said armature of saidmotor means both of said pistons for simultaneously reciprocating thesame within their respective cylinders during operation of said motormeans, whereby said lubricant pump means and said compressor pump meansare operated simultaneously, thereby moving a refrigerant within saidrefrigerant chamber relative to the exterior of said outer casing whilesaid compressor pump means is continuously lubricated during operationthereof.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said compressor cylinderis integral with said top wall of said inner casing and wherein saidlubricant cylinder is integral with said bottom wall of said innercasing.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said inner casing isspring-mounted within said outer casing.

9. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said armature is toothedand said stator is constituted by an electromagnet formed with similarlytoothed pole pieces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,583,156 Jefiers May 4, 1926 1,934,994 Nahman et a1 Nov. 14, 19332,054,097 Replogle Sept. 15, 1936 2,061,869 Gilbert et a1. Nov. 24, 19362,721,024 Zeh Oct. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 978,600 France Apr. 16, 1951

